Articulated belt conveyor and propelling car therefor



Sept. 4, 1962 R. T. SHEEHAN 3,052,341

ARTICULATED BELT coNvEYoR AND PROPELLING CAR THEREFOR Filed June 1s,1959 Sept. 4, 1962 R. T. sHl-:EHAN

ARTICULATED BELT CONVEYOR AND PROPELLING CAR THEREFOR Filed June 18.1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. /of/Pr /famq //ff/m/v Sept. 4, 1962 R.T. sHEEHAN 3,052,341

ARTICULATED BELT coNvEYoR AND PROPELLING CAR THEREFOR Filed June 18,1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Unite 313552341 Patented sept. 4,- 1962 3,052,341ARTICULATED BELT CGNVEYGR AND PRPELIIING CAR THEREFUR Robert T. Sheehan,31530 Myrna Road, Livonia, Mich. Filed .lune 18, 1959, Ser. No. $211,2282 Claims. (Cl. 19g-M9) This invention relates to conveyors and, inparticular, to articulated belt conveyors.

One object of this invention is to provide an articulatedlaterally-yieldable belt conveyor wherein the conveying belt is composedof loosely-interlocked elongated multiplelooped links loosely andpivotally connected to one another for relative shifting out ofparallelism with one another while remaining in a substantially commonplane in turning a lateral bend, certain of the conveyor belt linkshaving annularly-grooved hold-down guide rollers secured to their innersides and engaging corresponding ribs on guide tracks in the conveyorcar units, thereby providing a hold-down action which prevents theconveyor belt from jumping out of its normal conveying position,

Another object is to provide a propelling car for an articulatedlaterally-yieldable belt conveyor which is capable of providing smoothand uninterrupted propulsion of the conveyor car train over unevenground or flooring.

Another object is to provide a propelling car for an articulatedlaterally-yieldable belt conveyor, as set forth in the objectimmediately preceding, wherein means is provided for raising andlowering the car-propelling ground wheels so as to enable the propellingcar to be quickly and easily shifted by manual pushing into any desiredposition prior to applying po-wer to the propelling wheels to propel theconveyor car train.

Another object is to provide a propelling car as set forth in thelast-recited object wherein the raising and lowering means for thepropulsion wheels also serves in the lowered position of the propulsionwheels to limit the permissible rise and fall of the propulsion wheelsso as to eifectively prevent jack-kning of the conveyor duringoperation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE v1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the propelling `carof an articulated laterally-yieldable belt conveyor, together with theimmediately adjacent portion of the next preceding car, with thepropulsion wheels engaging the ground, taken along the line 1-1 inFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of thelower portion of the propelling car of FIGURE 1, with the propulsionwheels and propulsion mechanism swung upward to raise the propulsionwheels off the ground;

FIGURE 3 is a right-hand or forward end elevation, partly in section, ofthe propelling car shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4 4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the coupling arrangement andadjacent guide track and guide roller portions of adjacent cars, lookingin the direction of the arrows 5 5 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through one of the propulsionwheel raising devices taken along the line o in FIGURE 1;

FlGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of theendless laterally-yieldable wire mesh conveyor belt used in the conveyorof FIGURES 1 to 6 inclusive; and

FIGURE `8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 8--8 inFIGURE 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURE l shows the rearward portionof an articulated laterally-yieldable tlexible belt conveyor, generallydesignated 10, according to one form of the invention, using an endlesslaterallyyieldafble wire mesh conveyor belt, generally designated 12,particular emphasis being placed upon the propelling car, generallydesignated 14, and the conveyor belt guiding mechanism, generallydesignated 16. The conveyor 1t? as a whole is of the type described andclaimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 495,650 filed March 21,5 for Articulated Belt Conveyor, now United States Patent No. 2,859,861issued November 11, 1958. Since a disclosure of the major features of aconveyor 10 of this type is found in the above patent, it is suticientherein to state that the conveyor 10 consists of a train of wheeledconveyor cars with a propelling car 14 at the rear, a

conveyed material discharge car (not shown) at the front,

and intermediate cars 1S pivotally coupled between the propelling car 14and the discharge car. The discharge car (not shown) carries an electricmotor and reduction gearing for driving the conveyor or belt 12, and mayalso be provided with a stacking conveyor, such as that described andclaimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 625,799 rtiled December3, 1956 for Self-Propelling Articulated Stacking Conveyor, now UnitedStates Patent No. 2,990,938 issued July 4, 1961.

The endless laterally-yieldable wire mesh conveyor belt 12 consists(FIGURE 7) of laterally-elongated multiplelooped links 20 pivotallyinterconnected by elongated undulatory pivot rods 22. The links 20 areformed of heavy wire woven into the approximate shape of a attenedhelical spring with multiple loops or convolutions 24 arranged in azigzag path around elongated central openings 26, which are-race-track-shaped in cross-section. The convolutions or loops 24 haveupper and lower portions 28 and 3l)` arranged in substantially parallelplanes, with arcuate or rounded junctionportions 332 interconnectingthem.

The pivot rods 22 are of undulating shape (FIGURE 7) so as to provide,in effect, indentations or notches 34 disposed alternately in oppositedirections (FIGURE 7) for receiving the rounded end portions or junctionportions 32 of the links 20. The pivot rods 22 are secured as by Weldingat 36 to the outermost convolution 24 of each link 20 so as to rigidlyconnect one pivot rod 22 to each link 2G. In this manner, the adjacentpivot rods 22 can move out of parallelism with one another within theopenings 26 of the adjacent links 20 because of the fact that theadjacent curved portions of the adjoining link 29 loosely and movablyengage the pivot rod 22 of the next link 20. As a result, in rounding aturn in the conveyor Ill when the cars 14 and 1S are arranged at anangle to one another, the ends of the pivot rods 22 adjacent the insideof the turn may closely approach one another on the side of the belt 12adjacent the inside of the turn while remaining widely separated fromone another on the opposite side of the belt at the outer side of theturn, thereby enabling the belt 12 to execute a turn in its own plane,without humping up or otherwise departing from a substantiallyflat-topped condition.

The zigzag arrangement of the upper and lower portions 28 and 30 ofsuccessive convolutions 24 of each link 20 provides tniangular spaces'38 (FIGURE 7) into which drive pins 40 (FIGURE 1) on laterally-spaceddriven drums or spike pulleys 42 can enter in order to engage theconveyor belt 12. Similar laterally-spaced driving drums are provided onthe forward end of the discharge car (not shown), and dniven by theelectric motor and reduction gearing thereon. The drums 42 (FIGURE l)are mounted in axially-spaced relationship near the opposite ends of ashaft 44 journaled in bearings 46 secured to brackets 48 which in turnare bolted or otherwise secured to the side plates 50 of the upper frame52 mounted on the lower frame 54 of the propelling unit 14. The upperand lower frames 52 and 54 collectively form a conveyor-supporting frame55. The side plates 50 of the upper frame 52 (FIGURE 3) have right-anglebase portions 56 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the lowerframe 54. The side plates 50i at their opposite ends are provided withupright angle members 58 and are also interconnected between their upperand lower edges by tubular brace members 60 welded or otherwise securedthereto and having spaced guide plates 62 welded or otherwise secured totheir .intermediate portions (FIG- URE 3). The guide plates 62 neartheir upper edges are provided with elongated guide ribs 64 (FIGURES land Secured as by -Welding between the guide plates 62 at the forwardend of the propelling car 14 are parallel coupling plates 66 spacedvertically apart from one another for receiving a coupling pin 68 whichalso passes through a similar but single coupling plate 70 disposed inthe space beneath the upper and lower coupling plates 66, the couplingplates 66 and 70` being tapered to approximately triangular outline attheir meeting ends and drilled in alignment to receive the coupling pin68. The coupling plate 70 is similarly welded or otherwise securedbetween the guide plates 62 carried by the tubular cross members 60 ofthe upper frame 72 of the intermediate cars 18 which likewise have sideplates 50 Welded to the outer ends of the cross members 60. In thismanner (FIGURES 1 and 5), the propelling car 12 is pivotally coupled toits adjacent intermediate car 18 and the intermediate cars 18 coupled toone another and to the forward or discharge car (not shown).

.'I'he lower frame 54 of the propelling car 14 consists of an opencrate-like arrangement of angle members (FIGURES 2 and 3), namely lower`angle members 74 interconnected at their opposite ends by angle crossmembers 76 welded thereto, the open lower frame portion thus formedcarrying angle uprights 78 at its opposite ends which at their upperends are interconnected by upper longitudinal `and cross Iangle members80 and 82 respectively, the upper longitudinal members 80 being alsoconnected by intermediate angle cross members 84 which support the sideplates 50 of the upper frame 5-2.

Secured to and projecting outwardly from the lower frame members 74 and76 (FIGURES l, 2 and 3) are caster brackets 8-6 which are notched out at87 and welded or otherwise .secured thereto. The caster brackets 86carry caster bearings 88 for rotatably supporting the vertical pivotpins 90 of the wheel yokes 92 of swivel casters 94 having axles 96rotatably supporting caster Wheels 98. Mounted in and on the cornerportions of the lower frame members 74 `and 78 Iat the rearward end ofthe propelling car 14 are supporting blocks 100 (FIG- URE l) which .inturn support a cross plate 102 welded or otherwise secured thereto.Bolted to the cross plate 102 at its opposite ends are bearing blocks104 which tin turn tiltably support trunnion pins 106 on trunnion blocks108. The trunnion blocks 108 (FIGURE 4) are Welded or otherwise securedto the longitudinal side angle members 110 of a tilting auxiliary frame,generally designated 112, open at its front end, the rearward end ofwhich is closed by an angle cross member 114 extending thereacross.Intermediate angle cross members 116 additionally interconnect the sidemembers 110, which at their forward ends have outwardly-extending anglebrackets 118.

The angle brackets 118i (FIGURE 6) are provided with enlarged holes 126receiving the reduced diameter threaded lower portions 122 of plungers124 forming the movable parts of raising and lowering devices, 'geneerally designated 126. Each plunger 124 is of elongated cylindricalshape so as to be reciprocable vertically in the bore 128 of acup-s`liaped cylinder or tubular member 130, the reduced diameterthreaded end 132 of which extends through an enlarged hole 134 in thebase portion 56 of one of the side plates 50 and is secured thereto by athreaded nut 136. The threaded end 132 is provided with a central bore138 which loosely and slidably receives La rod 140. The lower end of therod 140 is threaded as at 142 (FIGURE 6) to be received in thecorrespondingly-threaded central socket 144 of each plunger 124 `and atits upper end is threaded as` at 146 to receive an internally-threadedhand Wheel 148 adapted to bear against a washer 150 resting upon thereduced diameter portion 132. As a consequence, rotation of the handwheel 148 in one direction raises the plunger 124 and in the oppositedirection lowers it and the tilting frame 1.12 connected thereto.

Welded or otherwise secured to the top edges of the longitudinal andcross angle members 110 and 114 is a platform plate 152 (FIGURES l and4), the forward edge 154 of which terminates short of the angle brackets118 so as to provide an open space 156 between the longitudinal tiltingframemembers 110 extending rearwardly approximately one-third of thelength of the tilting frame 112. The latter is also further strengthenedat approxi mately its midportion by a cross plate 158 andoppositely-facing angle cross members 160 (FIGURE l), so as to increasethe rigidity of the tilting frame 112 adjacent its open forward end.Rising from Vthe forward ends of the longitudinal side members 110* arevertical angle members 162, the tops of which (FIGURE 3) areinterconnected by an angle cross member 164. Extending rearwardly fromthe tops of the vertical `angle members 162 are horizontal longitudinalupper angle members 166 (FIGURE 1) secured to the upper ends ofupstanding in termediate vertical angle members 1.68, the lower ends ofwhich are secured to the longitudinal side angle memd bers 110 embracedby oblique angle braces 170 extending between the upper ends of theintermediate vertical members 168 and the approximate rearward ends ofthe longitudinal angle members 110. The foregoing angle members whichcollectively form the sides of the tilting frame 112 are preferablysecured to one another by welding so as to form a substantially integralframe.

Mounted upon and bolted to the rearward portion of the platform plate`152 (FIGURES 1 and 4) is an electric motor 172, the armature shaft 174of which drives through a jaw coupling 176 the input shaft 178 of areduction gear box 180, the output shaft 182 of which has a drivesprocket 184 keyed thereto. The reduction gear box is bolted orotherwise secured to the platform plate 152 and its drive sprocket 184meshes with a sprocket chain 186 which also meshes with a drivensprocket 188 (FIGURES 1 and 2). IThe latter is keyed or otherwisedrivingly connected to an axle 190 which is rotatably mounted in bearingblocks or journal bearings 192 depending from and bolted to theundersides of the forward ends of the longitudinal members 110. The axle19t) crosses the Ispace 156 between the forward ends of the longitudinalframe members 110 and carries multiple rubber-tired traction wheels ordriving wheels 194 keyed or otherwise drivingly secured side by side tothe axle 190. The forward or material-discharge car (not shown) of theconveyor contains control switches for the conveyor belt-driving motorthereon and also for the conveyor propelling motor 172 on the rearwardpropelling car 14, so that the operator can control all operations fromthe forward end of the conveyor 10, as explained above in connectionwith the previouslyunentioned Sheehan Patent No. 2,859,861.

The conveyor belt guiding mechanism 16 within each of the cars of theconveyor 10, in addition to the laterallyspaced guide plates 62 withtheir guide ribs 64, includes vertically-disposed belt hold-down guidingunits, generally designated 196 (FIGURE 3) disposed at intervals alongthe inner side of the conveyor belt 12 in the central path thereof so asto pass through the space between the spike pulleys or drums 42. Each ofthe belt holdadown guiding units 196 consists of parallel upper andlower bars 198 and 200 drilled to receive a pair of parallel verticalroller axles 202 upon which laterally-spaced guide rollers 204 arerotatably mounted, preferably on anti-friction bearings (not shown). Theopposite ends of the axle 202 are secured in any suitable manner totheir respective bars 198 and 200, the bars '198 constituting attachmentmembers -welded to the inner link portions 30 of certain of the chainbelt linlcs at intervals around the entire extent of the conveyor belt12 at separations suicient to provide adequate guidance for the belt 12,the bars or attachment members 198 being disposed transversely of thebelt 12 in spaced parallel relationship with one another. lEach of therollers 204 is provided with an annular groove 206 which loosely yetguidedly engages the guide ribs 64 near the upper edges of the guideplates 62 (FIGURE 3) so as to prevent vertical jumping of the uppercourse of the wire mesh belt 12 during operation.

The upper course of the wire mesh conveyor belt 12 (FIGURE 3) issupported by elongated upper rollers 208, the outer ends 210 of which(FIGURE 1) are rotatably supported in the side plates 50 and the innerends in the guide plates 62 (FIGURE 3). The lower course of the conveyorbelt 12, on the other hand, is supported by single elongated lowerrollers 212, the opposite ends 214 of which are rotatably supported inthe side plates 50. As is evident from FIGURE 3, the guide plates 62extend only partway through the vertical space between the side plates50, leaving beneath their lower edges 216 a space across which the lowerelongated guide rollers 212 extend. A similar conveyor belt supportingand hold-down guiding arrangement is provided on the intermediate cars18 and also on the forward or discharge car (not shown).

In the propelling car 14, as actually constructed, heavy weights in theform of rectangular metal slabs of cast iron or other suitable material,tare secured to the auxiliary frame 112 in the rectangular space betweenthe upper and lower angle members 166 and 110 and the vertical anglemembers 162 and 168 in spaced vertical parallel planes. These weights(not shown) are for the purpose of imparting greater traction to thetraction wheels 194 and have been omitted in order to avoid concealingthe drive chain -186 and other portions of the mechanism lying betweenthe spaces where these weights are attached.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the propellingcar 14 has been coupled to a train of intermediate cars 18 and thesecoupled to a materialdischarging car (not shown) as described above andmore fully disclosed in the above-mentioned Sheehan Patent No.2,859,861. If it is desired to push the conveyor manually for a certaindistance, as in transporting it from place to place, the operatorrotates the hand wheels 148 to raise the plungers 124 and with them theforward end of the tilting frame 112, causing the traction wheels 194 tomove upward from their ground-engaging positions of FIGURE 1 to theirretracted positions of FIGURE 2. The propelling car 14 can then bepushed freely around by the operator or loaded upon a truck, trailer orother means of transportation, without involving the propellingmechanism thereof. Y'

When the operator desires to move the conveyor by selfpropulsion, herotates the hand wheels 148 in reverse directions to lower the plungers`124 and with them the traction wheels 194 so that these engage theground or `floor, as shown in `FIGURE `1. The operator then starts thepropulsion motor 172, so as to cause the ground wheels to be driven in aforward direction, while he steers the conveyor by swinging the forwardcar to one side or the other. As the propelling car 14 travels over anuneven floor or ground, the tilting frame 112 rises and falls whilemaintaining the traction -wheels constantly in driving engagement withthe oor or ground as the propelling car 14 propels the remaining cars ofthe conveyor 10 in a forward direction. By reversing the motor 172, theconveyor can also be backed. When the conveyor 10 has been propelled toits desired position, the operator stops the motor 172, consequentlyhalting the conveyor 10.

The operator then starts the conveyor belt driving motor on the forwardor material-discharge car (not shown), causing the conveyor belt 12 totravel in an orbital path over the rollers 208 and 212 (FIGURE 3) whilebeing guided by the parallel vertical rollers 204 of the belt hold-downguiding units 196, the grooves 206 of which engage the guide ribs 64 toprevent jumping of the conveyor belt while the rollers 204 themselvesengage the vertical guide plates 82 to prevent undesired lateral motion.The loose link construction of the conveyor belt 12, as described above,enables the conveyor 10 to be arranged in an arcuate or sinuous path,according to the loading or unloading conditions for which the conveyor10 is being used. For loading freight cars, for example, the forward carof the conveyor 10 is moved into the freight car through one of the sidedoors thereof to a location adjacent one of the ends of the freight car.

When one row of articles, such as sacks of grain, has been conveyed bythe conveyor belt 12 from the end thereof adjacent the spike pulleys 42,which is the loading end of the conveyor 10, and stacked adjacent theinner wall of the freight car end, the operator actuates the propellingmotor 172 in reverse to cause the traction wheels 194 to rotatereversely, backing the conveyor 10 away from the stacked articles to alocation where it will be conveniently used to stack the second row ofarticles, and so on until the one end portion of the freight car iscompletely filled. The operator then operates the propelling motor 172in a forward direction to propel the conveyor 10 to the opposite end ofthe freight car, repeating the stacking procedure and backing off theconveyor 10 each time a stack of articles has been completed. When thefreight car has been completely lled, the operator backs the conveyor 10out of the freight car, completing the loading operation. The swivelcasters 94 enable the cars to be moved sidewise or endwise freely whenthe traction Wheels 194 have been retracted upward, as shown in FIGURE2.

What I claim is:

1. A conveyor supporting car adapted to support and guide the endlessconveyor belt of a portable belt conveyor apparatus, said car comprisinga conveyor-supporting frame having ground-engaging supporting wheelsrotatably mounted thereon, a shaft mounted transversely of said frame inthe upper portion thereof, a pair of conveyor belt supporting wheelsmounted on said shaft in axially-spaced relationship, a pair oflaterally-spaced elongated substantially straight guide members mountedon said frame in laterally-spaced relationship and having elongatedsubstantially straight horizontal guide roller-retaining ribs thereonfacing one another in laterally-spaced relationship, and a plurality ofconveyor belt hold-down guiding units disposed between said guidemembers and ribs in retained engagement with said ribs, said units beingadapted to be secured to the inner side of the conveyor belt atintervals therealong in spaced parallel relationship transversely of thebelt; each belt hold-down guiding unit including a conveyor beltattachment member adapted to be secured to the conveyor belt, a pair ofguide roller axles secured to each attachment member in laterallyspacedparallel relationship, and extending perpendicularly thereto into thespace between said guide members and retaining ribs, and a pair ofaxially-spaced guide roller portions rotatably mounted on each axle inguided engagement with said guide members, each said pair of guideroller portions having an annular recess therebetween, one of saidretaining ribs projecting into said recess in retaining engagement withsaid guide roller portions.

2. A conveyor supporting car for a laterally-yieldable belt conveyor,according to claim 1, wherein said guide members comprise verticalplates disposed in laterallyspaced parallel relationship with innersides facing one another, wherein spacing brace members are disposed be-8 tween and connected to said plates with their opposite end portionssecured to said conveyor supporting frame, and wherein saidroller-retaining ribs are secured to said inner sides and projectinwardly toward one another into said recesses of said guide rollerportions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS104,254 Bootsmann June 14, 1870 507,349 yBeerstecher Oct. 24, 18931,244,024 Brown Oct. 2,3, 1917 1,703,070 Barshell Feb. 19, 19292,357,549 Roberson Sept. 5, 1944 2,377,155 Jones May 29, 1945 2,787,366Sykokis Apr. 2, 1957 2,818,965 Horth Ian. 7, 1958 2,859,861 Sheehan Nov.11, 1958

